A second chance for Jamie at Fylde

Dave Challinor is convinced he can get the best out of new signing Jamie Rainford.

The striker arrives at Fylde having left his previous two clubs on bad terms with off-the-field problems blighting his career so far.

Rainford was a prolific goal scorer at Marine before joining Chester in July 2011 for a reported fee of £17,600.

He then joined Halfax where things didn’t go to plan and issues, including reports he failed to turn up to training, resulted in him spending the end of last season on loan at Northwich Victoria.

But boss Challinor (above right) thinks he’s the man to get him back on track.

“Hopefully we can provide a platform for Jay to put the last two years behind him and get back to enjoying his football and scoring goals which is what he loves doing,” he said.

“He’ll be the first to admit he’s made mistakes and I’m sure would have gone about things differently if he could turn the clock back but he can’t.

“He’s a proven goal scorer at this level having scored over 35 goals for Marine in his last spell in this division. He’ll undoubtedly get opportunities to score goals again at this level and he is desperate to prove what he can do but for us, if we can get him enjoying his football I’m of no doubt he’ll prove a real asset.

“In the short time he’s been with us, we’ve tried to get across our philosophy and what we expect from everyone within the squad. I have no doubt he’s asked other players that have worked with us what we are like.

“We’ll help him to try and improve him as a player. He’s somewhere where high demands will be placed on him, not just in terms of us as a management team but in a dressing room of really good lads with a lot of quality.”

AFC Fylde take on Prescot Cables in their latest friendly tonight while the development squad travel to West Lancashire League side Longridge Town.

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